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The human factor in licensing and operating the next generation of nuclear plants
As human factors specialists working at the intersection of human performance and nuclear operations, we are witnessing one of the nuclear sector’s most significant transitions in decades. The emergence of small modular reactors, microreactors, and other advanced designs is reshaping the industry’s landscape. Digital instrumentation and controls, passive safety systems, and increased automation are creating opportunities for greater safety margins and more flexible operation. These same features also fundamentally redefine what it means to “operate” a nuclear plant. Interactions among human roles, automation, and passive systems shape how people maintain awareness, exercise judgment, and intervene when necessary. These developments affect both operational realities and the regulatory foundations on which nuclear safety is built.
Konstantin L. Nikitin, Masaki Saito, Vladimir V. Artisyuk
Nuclear Technology | Volume 144 | Number 2 | November 2003 | Pages 152-157
Technical Paper | Fuel Cycle and Management | doi.org/10.13182/NT03-A3436
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The possible application of 6Li as a burnable poison and U-Np nitride as a fuel for space nuclear reactors has been studied. The analysis was performed for an infinite lattice with a leakage in the form of buckling and (U-Np)N fuel with 20% uranium enrichment. The combination of 7Li as a coolant and 6Li as a burnable poison results in a favorable criticality behavior during burnup. The parameters taken into consideration include the different fuel and coolant compositions, the form of absorber material, and the various absorber mass and concentrations. It was found that absorption properties of 6Li allow reaching the burnup value up to 67 GWd/tHM while reactivity swing is comparable with eff. The corresponding reactor lifetime is ~10 to 30 yr.